ODFEN 08

Chapter 8….

Temporary Education Hall Lucina! 2022.01.28

“Yukar.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Yukar lowered his head even further at the sudden voice.

“Even if she is a witch, do not be bewitched by her. Do not worry.”

What is that supposed to mean? With his head still bowed, Yukar blinked.

“Who would dare kill me?”

Thud—. The door closed. When Yukar подня his head, Calix had already disappeared without a trace.

“…….”

Yukar was dumbfounded.

“Is there anyone in this world who worries about Your Majesty…?”

He had only inserted that part while slightly worrying about the princess… Yukar’s voice echoed in the empty library without reaching anyone. After some time passed, Yukar came to his senses and frowned.

“I was talking about worrying about the princess!”

When Yukar shouted, his glasses slipped down onto the bridge of his nose. Wearing them askew, Yukar sighed.

After the bloodless confrontation, I drafted a temporary contract. My duties were to stick closely to Rubelin as a nanny and to conduct two hours of strength control training every morning.

I had read the clauses and signed them, but now that I think about it, it seems I signed under Calix’s coercion. I should have checked whether there were any unfavorable clauses—was I too hasty? Above all, since I didn’t have a copy of the contract, it felt like I had been robbed blind in broad daylight.

“Submit a performance report every day.”

After Calix’s cold command, I barely managed to leave the office, but I was immediately dragged to the training room for handover.

Under the watchful gaze of an instructor named Mevern, whom I had seen in the Emperor’s office, I had to listen to Rubelin’s information and lectures. Mevern was in charge of the princess’s education, and the things he listed were more impossible than possible.

“Praise should be scarce.”
“Show enthusiasm in class.”
“Do not make frequent eye contact with Her Highness.”
“Physical contact is prohibited.”
“Always carry strength-control protective attire so it can be worn at any time,” and so on.

Finally, Mevern’s wooden pointer reached the last item. This time, he was passionately lecturing about the qualifications of an educator.

“Thus, only outstanding individuals who have graduated from the prestigious Imperial Academy with a long history are appointed as Her Highness’s private tutor. Therefore, someone as cultured and well-read as I bla bla la la la—”

Yawn. I covered my mouth with my hand and opened it wide. Mevern, finishing his enthusiastic talk, turned around.

“Do you understand?”

“Yes, yes?”

I startled awake from my yawn and lowered my hand. Mevern narrowed his eyes with a suspicious expression.

“Were you listening?”

“I was!”

“Really?”

“Of course!”

Mevern reluctantly let it pass with a displeased expression.

To be honest, Mevern’s handover was meaningless to me. Once the “spell” over Rubelin wore off, he would stop being an educator anyway.

I yawned again and looked at the green chalkboard with tearful eyes. The writing on it blurred.

Seeing Mevern wiping the board with an eraser, I felt relieved.

Phew, at least this is over.

As I stood up from the sofa in relief, Mevern’s voice suddenly stopped me.

“Now, next!”

“Next?”

I looked up in shock. The golden circular clock hanging above the board was ticking diligently.

Good heavens—it had already been two hours! Mevern seemed to be the type who found joy in sharing knowledge. The faint smile on his face was proof. Even those who had listened to his endless lectures must have already left.

“Now, let’s continue with—”

“Mevern!”

I raised my hand sharply, cutting him off.

“I have a question.”

His face, which had been slightly displeased, brightened at the word “question.” He quickly sat down on the opposite sofa.

“What are you curious about? Ask anything!”

What should I ask? I racked my brain to stop the lecture. There were many things I was curious about in the imperial palace, but I needed something related to Rubelin.

Something that had been puzzling me… Ah, right.

A question flashed through my mind, and I hurriedly spoke.

“Why was Her Highness staying in our village?”

It had been a question ever since I hugged Rubelin in the alley. Mevern puffed out his chest proudly.

“Well, it’s to show Her Highness the scenery outside the palace. Since there are limits to what can be learned through academics alone, it’s to help her experience the peaceful atmosphere of the empire.”

I slowly stroked my chin, deep in thought.

That couldn’t be right. From what I knew from the original story, Rubelin could not leave the imperial capital.

Mevern seemed to read my doubt and snapped his fingers.

“Lady Lucina. His Majesty persuaded the ministers and revised the imperial education law for Her Highness.”

“A law?”

“Yes. The imperial education law stating that members of the royal family are prohibited from going out until they can proficiently control their abilities.”

Huh, that’s different from the original?

I frowned, unable to understand.

Unlike me, Mevern looked up at the ceiling with an ecstatic expression.

“Ah, I’ll never forget that day.”

“That day?”

“When Her Highness’s outing was said to incite fear and threaten the citizens of the empire, His Majesty placed a sword to a minister’s neck and said this! ‘Do you truly wish to know what a threat is?’ Kuu, it was an honor to witness that scene!”

…That’s… impressive?

Mevern’s eyes suddenly drooped as he recalled something, becoming somber.

“But we couldn’t simply rejoice. Due to officials’ claims that it would cause unrest among the citizens, it was revised behind the scenes. Though speculative, I assume His Majesty did this because of his own childhood.”

“His childhood?”

“As someone with unprecedented magical power in history, the process could not have been easy.”

Though Mevern seemed to choose his words carefully, for someone like me who knew the original, his words felt vivid.

Calix, too, had always had to live confined.

I scratched my cheek with my finger.

From this, it didn’t seem like he hated Rubelin…

While I was lost in thought, Mevern suddenly stood up from the sofa and walked to the chalkboard.

“Now then, let’s continue the lecture.”

“Excuse me?”

My mind went blank.

I had tried to escape with a question, and now it was starting again?

Mevern picked up chalk and smiled refreshingly.

“Now! Having explained qualifications, next are the philosophies of past educators.”

“…….”

“Now, take a look. The educator who authored ‘My Child Can Attend the Imperial Academy?!’ wrote bla bla la la—”

I was utterly dazed by Mevern’s energetic demeanor.

I staggered out of the training room like a dried fish under the sun.

That overly talkative man… Ugh.

Groaning, I held my forehead.

After listening to his lecture for three straight hours, I ended up with a headache I didn’t even have before.

“Eomma!”

Rubelin ran toward me, her cotton-candy-like hair swaying, and hugged me.

I nearly fell backward from her sudden embrace. No matter how much I controlled my strength, a child’s energy was still overwhelming.

I gently stroked Rubelin’s hair.

“Did you wait?”

“Yeah!”

Rubelin lifted her head and smiled brightly. With a candy in her mouth, she looked like a squirrel hiding an acorn in its cheek—no, with her red eyes, a rabbit would be more appropriate.

I tapped her puffed cheek lightly.

It must have taken quite a while—she waited for me.

When I looked outside, it was already night.

“You must be tired, Your Highness.”

“Mm-mm—”

Rubelin shook her head vigorously.

“You’re not tired?”

“No! Not that!”

She shook her head even more strongly than before.

“Your Highness?”

Rubelin puffed out her cheeks like a blowfish.

What was she dissatisfied with?

“Na—me!”

“Name?”

Did she want me to call her by name? But…

I glanced toward the training room. Wouldn’t I get scolded for daring to say the princess’s name?

“Na—me!”

After a brief hesitation, under Rubelin’s insistence, I reluctantly spoke.

“Yes, Rubelin.”

Still not satisfied, she shook her head again.

“Th-then, Rubelin?”

“Yeah!”

Only then did Rubelin show a satisfied smile. I sighed after passing that long hurdle.

Is this really okay?

At that moment, a neatly dressed elderly woman who had been waiting stepped forward and bowed.

“Greetings, Lady Lucina. I am the head maid, Rinell.”

Head maid?

I looked at her snow-white hair and hurriedly bowed.

“I’m Lucina.”

After exchanging greetings, Rinell straightened up and turned away expressionlessly.

“Then I will guide you to your lodging. Please follow me.”

The greeting, which I expected to continue, ended quite abruptly. I scratched my head and stood up.

Is coldness a requirement in the imperial palace?

I wondered whether Rubelin would be okay in a place like this. Despite having already decided to leave, I found myself hypocritically worrying about her.

Not hearing my footsteps, Rinell turned back quickly.

“Lady Lucina, I will guide you this way—”

“No! I’ll sleep with her!”

Rubelin spread her arms and blocked my way. Rinell lowered her head with a troubled expression.

“Pardon me, but His Majesty ordered that a separate room be prepared—”

“Ugh! I clearly! Said I’m sleeping with Eomma!”

I was startled and widened my eyes. That was quite a forceful statement for a princess.

Rinell also seemed surprised, as the emotion showed clearly on her usually composed face.

“To express such strong will….”

Rubelin kept her arms spread, showing no intention of backing down. Roll.

In the silence, the candy in her mouth rolled around, rubbing against her teeth.

“Slurp.”